Job Discussion Forums

[oreochicken]

I am a native speaker of American English who will be graduating from one of the top five ranked MATESL programs in the US this spring. I have seven total years of ESL and FFL (French as a foreign language) teaching experience in the states, though none of it full time. I also have solid curriculum development experience, as well as limited experience supervising other teachers. Unfortunately, I have never taught abroad, and that option is not open for me due to my partner's circumstances.

Until I started lurking on these boards a few weeks ago, I am afraid I was living with my head in a bubble: I was assuming I wouldn't have all that much trouble finding a good, full-time job teaching ESL to adults in North America. But now I am starting to panic. My academic department is reorganizing, and we lost our job placement help, so I'm on my own in terms of searching. I know to search universities, community colleges, private language schools and such. Any other suggestions? I do not have a public school teaching license, though I know some districts will emergency-license.

My real questions are these: I have never been to the TESOL conference because I've never had the money to go. I know they have a large job placement fair, but since I am only able to teach in NA, I'm wondering if my going into debt to go to this conference would be worth it what with my NA market restriction?

Secondly, can anyone give me any idea of just how big a draw back my lack of experience teaching abroad will really be? I am aware that most of my competition will have taught abroad. Should I lower my job search expectations based on the fact that I have not taught abroad? I have no sense of just how big a liability this is.
Any comments welcome. Thanks!

[Ben Round de Bloc]